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June 21, 2011

Where I'm From

I am from crayons left melting in the sun,
from Kool-Aid and tying a sheet to the box fan in the hallway.

I am from the scratchy Powder Puff Big Wheel tires on the pavement,
I am from Juniper Street, metal swing set in the backyard

from the big oak tree in the front

(so wide my brother used to pee on it and no one saw.)

I'm from Irish lullabies and stumpy cankle legs,
from Wilsons and Maynards and Hoovers and Riddles.
I'm from the grudge-holders
and the people pleasers
from the guess what? chicken butt and home again home again jiggity jig.
I'm from I've got the joy joy joy joy down in my heart
where!?
and baptism and believing and falling and receiving.

I'm from zucchini in a southern patch,
General Mills cereal with prizes inside.
From the family trip to the Rocky Mountains and I touched a cloud.
The time my grandmother called me thunder thighs (never forgot)
in sticky spiral album pages were birthday parties and family reunions

Polaroids with black marker "Stephie age 1"
my Raggedy Ann wallpaper

crying when I turned twelve because I didn't want to ever turn thirteen
the canopy bed.
I am from that little girl, never knew she'd be big so fast

she had no clue and

I am glad.

I remember this "meme" from way back in my first year of blogging and all these years later thought I'd write one. Based on the original poem- Where I'm Fromby George Ella Lyons, found here and the template here if you want to make one, too. (Definitely come back and leave the link to yours in the comments.)

Wow! I don't know if I'm just getting old, or have blocked out my childhood, but this was kinda tough! I did it though. After I was finished I went and read the original! Goodness, that is SOME writing. :) Thanks for inspiring me, Steph!

i thought i said how much i loved this earlier, but i'm back again because i've been thinking about it so much today. i want to do this, but i feel like i need to hand write it out. looking forward to it. thanks for sharing.

i love where you're from....especially because how it's made you who you are!

I am so glad you commented to me ~ my daughter has an appt with the neurologist this next week for something that looks like a seizure, but could be nothing. If it turns out to be something though...I am glad to have found you. :) oh, and cute outfit!

this made me cry, especially the last part. i am definitely going to make one too!! i have always loved your blog but finally (after 7 months with my own blog - before it was set to private as i'm rather shy) i'm leaving my first comment!

Love this!! Just did one too. I might do another one about harder memories but was happy with the little things that stood out and were included. Thanks for a great idea- I need to kickstart my writing again!

Hi Steph,Where I'm From really sparked my interest. That's saying a lot because this is my very first comment on a blog (except for a question about a recipe on a food blog because of 2 failed cakes - which doesn't count IMO.} -Blog sites & twittering is where I am NOT from - one day I may catch up with the times though :)I think I'll write myself a little poem now . . .

I first read Sarah's (Emerging Mummy) version, and then landed here, both of which are just beautiful. Such warm imagery is evoked in pondering this "where I am from" idea... I love it. I couldn't resist and wrote my own (used the structure somewhat loosely). Thank-you for sharing!